A monthly look at astronomical events in the sky and on Earth

Compiled by Steve Sawyer

Hi, hope you all coped with the January blues and the storms! We’re now into the last month of meteorological winter, with the days slowly becoming longer as Spring approaches. This month we can look forward to a couple of comets and the winter constellations.

So what’s on this month?

February offers an excellent view of the Milky Way in the northern and western sky, encompassing constellations like Cygnus, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Auriga, Gemini, and Monoceros. Cassiopeia may be less noticeable due to the dense star clusters. Draco’s head is more visible, and Deneb in Cygnus is near the northern horizon at midnight. Vega in Lyra is low but may become visible later. Boötes, shaped like a kite or letter ‘P’, with its bright star Arcturus, starts to appear in the east. The faint Coma Berenices constellation and Melotte 111 star cluster are also visible. In the northwest, Andromeda is still visible, but its star Alpheratz is nearing the horizon. Overhead, the faint constellation Lynx, introduced by Johannes Hevelius, is a challenge to spot.
We can also try to spot comets 144P and 62P.

 

Sky Diary

Date	Time	Description
Feb 1	07:46	Spica 1.7ºS of the Moon
Feb 2	23:18	Last Quarter Moon
Feb 5	00:52	Antares 0.6ºS of the Moon
Feb 7	18:50	Venus (mag. -3.9) 5.4ºN of the Moon
Feb 8	06:30	Mars (mag. 1.3) 4.2ºN of the Moon
Feb 8	21:59	Mercury (mag. -0.4) 3.2ºN of the Moon
Feb 9	22:59	New Moon
Feb 10	18:53	Moon at perigee = 358,099 km
Feb 11	00:40	Saturn (mag. 1.0) 1.8ºN of the Moon
Feb 12	06:45	Neptune (mag. 7.9) 0.7ºN of the Moon
Feb 15	08:16	Jupiter (mag. -2.3) 3.2ºS of the Moon
Feb 16	08:16	Uranus (mag. 5.8) 3.2ºS of the Moon
Feb 16	15:01	First Quarter Moon
Feb 17	16:41	Aldebaran 9.8ºS of the Moon
Feb 21	01:33	Pollux 1.6ºN of the Moon
Feb 23	23:26	Regulus 3.6ºS of the Moon
Feb 24	12:30	Full Moon
Feb 25	14:59	Moon at apogee = 406,312 km
Feb 28	14:00	Saturn (mag. 0.9) 0.2ºN of Mercury (mag. -1.8)
Feb 28	14:23	Spica 1.5ºS of the Moon

Sky Maps

looking South on the 15th at 22:00

Looking North on the 15th at 22:00

The two charts above show all DSOs of magnitude 6.0 or brighter. They are both taken from
SkyViewCafe.com and correct for the 15th of the month. For a clickable list of Messier objects with images, use the Wikipedia link.

 

 

Februarys Objects

The Sun

Although solar maximum is not far away the Sun this month is at the time of writing fairly quiet. Although this may change as the month progresses. Use the resources below to keep abreast of any changes.

Resources

For more info on the sun and solar weather look here : –

Space Weather Enthusiasts Dashboard | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

Auroa Forecasts

A bit US centred but still useful

Aurora Dashboard (Experimental) | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

And our own Met-office have an excellent space weather forecast page here Space Weather – Met Office

 

 

The Moon

Februarys moon calendar from Sky View Café (skyviewcafe.com)

The full moon in February is often referred to as the Snow Moon. This name is aptly given due to the typically heavy snowfall that occurs in February. Some North American tribes also called it the Hungry Moon due to the scarce food sources during mid-winter, while others named it Bear Moon to refer to when bear cubs are born1. Other common names from Celtic and Old English traditions include Storm Moon, Ice Moon, and Snow Moon.

• February 1: The Moon is 1.7º North of Spica in Virgo.
• February 5: The Moon is 0.6º North of orange-red Antares.
• February 6: The Moon is 5.4º South of brilliant Venus.
• February 7: The Moon is 4.2º South of Mars and 3.2º South of Mercury on the same day.
• February 11: Two days after New Moon, the Moon is 1.8º South of Saturn.
• February 12: The Moon is even closer to Neptune at 0.7º South.
• February 15: The Moon is 3.2º North of Jupiter.
• February 16: The Moon is the same distance north of Uranus.
• February 17: One day after First Quarter, the Moon is 9.8º North of Aldebaran in Taurus.
• February 21: The Moon is 1.6º South of Pollux, three days before Full Moon.
• February 23: The Moon is 3.6º North of Regulus, passing between it and Algieba.

Moon Feature

Arzachel

Arzachel is a relatively young lunar impact crater located in the highlands in the south-central part of the visible Moon, close to the zero meridian. It is a favorite telescope viewing subject for advanced amateur astronomers. The rim of Arzachel shows little sign of wear and has a detailed terrace structure on the interior, especially on the slightly higher eastern rim. The rugged central peak of Arzachel is prominent, rising 1.5 kilometers above the floor, and is somewhat offset to the west with a bowed curve from south to north-northeast. There is a rille system named the Rimae Arzachel that runs from the northern wall to the southeast rim. A small crater lies prominently in the floor to the east of the central peak, with a pair of smaller craterlets located nearby.

See the sky diary for this months lunar events as there are some nice viewing opportunities .

A full yearly lunar calendar can be found here :-

https://www.mooninfo.org/moon-phases/2023.html

Planets

Mercury

Not visible this month

Venus

Venus is a bright planet easily visible towards the SE in the early morning sky. Become less easy to see as the month progresses.

Mars

Not visible this month

Jupiter

Jupiter is well placed for viewing in February, shining at mag -2.2 and can be found in Aries.

Saturn

Too low in the sky to be seen after sunset.

Uranus

An evening planet shining at mag 5.7 and technically visible to the naked eye from a dark sky sight.

Neptune

Another evening planet and can be found in Pisces at mag 7.9

Meteor Showers

None this month, but keep an eye out for sporadics.

Comets

144P Kushida

Comet 144P/Kushida is a periodic comet that was discovered in January 1994 by Yoshio Kushida at the Yatsugatake South Base Observatory in Japan. This was the first comet discovery of 1994 and his second discovery within a month. It belongs to the Jupiter family of comets, indicating its origin in the outer solar system.

The comet has an orbital period of about 7.36 years and reached its perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 25 January 2024 and it should brighten to about magnitude 9.

As of late January 2024, Comet 144P/Kushida was in the constellation of Taurus, at a distance of 100,342,394 kilometers from Earth. The comet showed a faint tail on 29 January 20245

 

Comet 62P

Comet 62P/Tsuchinshan, also known as Tsuchinshan 1, is a periodic comet that was discovered on January 1, 1965, at the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanking. It belongs to the Jupiter family of comets, indicating its origin in the outer solar system.

The comet has an orbital period of about 6.38 years and reached its perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on December 25, 2023, and it brightened to about magnitude 8.

As of late January 2024, Comet 62P/Tsuchinshan was in the constellation of Virgo, at a distance of 74,724,779 kilometers from Earth. The comet showed a faint tail on January 29, 2024.

 

 

These are the other viewable comets this month, the ones listed below start at mag 7 and go to mag 13.

Name	Mag
103P/Hartley 2	7
C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS)	12
C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)	13
29P/Schwassmann- Wachmann 1	13

Deep Sky (DSO’s)

Here are some deep-sky objects that are well-placed for observations in February from the UK:

1. Flame Nebula (NGC 2024): The Flame Nebula, also known as NGC 2024, is an emission nebula located in the constellation Orion. It is approximately 900 to 1,500 light-years away from Earth. The bright star Alnitak, the easternmost star in the Belt of Orion, shines energetic ultraviolet light into the Flame, causing electrons to be knocked away from the great clouds of hydrogen gas that reside there. The glow of the nebula is largely due to the recombination of these electrons with ionized hydrogen.
2. Owl Nebula (M97, NGC 3587): The Owl Nebula, also known as Messier 97 (M97), is a planetary nebula located in the Ursa Major constellation. The nebula lies at a distance of approximately 2,030 light-years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 9.9. It has the designation NGC 3587 in the New General Catalogue.
3. Cigar Galaxy (M82): The Cigar Galaxy, also known as Messier 82 (M82), is a starburst galaxy approximately 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. It is the second-largest member of the M81 Group. The galaxy is about five times more luminous than the Milky Way, and its central region is about one hundred times more luminous.
4. Bode’s Galaxy (M81): Bode’s Galaxy, also known as Messier 81 (M81), is a grand design spiral galaxy located in the Ursa Major constellation. The galaxy lies at an approximate distance of 11.8 million light-years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 6.94. It has the designation NGC 3031 in the New General Catalogue.
5. NGC 3169: NGC 3169 is a small disrupted elliptical galaxy, a member of the M81 Group, which is located in the northern constellation Ursa Major. Despite being similar to an elliptical galaxy in appearance, it is peculiar for two reasons. First, it shows wispy edges and scattered dust clouds that are probably a result of gravitational interaction with its larger neighbours, similar to the galaxy M82. Second, this galaxy has an active nucleus.
6. NGC 3077: NGC 3077 is a small disrupted elliptical galaxy, a member of the M81 Group, which is located in the northern constellation Ursa Major. Despite being similar to an elliptical galaxy in appearance, it is peculiar for two reasons. First, it shows wispy edges and scattered dust clouds that are probably a result of gravitational interaction with its larger neighbours, similar to the galaxy M82. Second, this galaxy has an active nucleus.
7. NGC 2820, NGC 2814, and NGC 2805: NGC 2814 actually has three close (in astronomical terms) galactic neighbors: a side-on spiral galaxy known as NGC 2820; an irregular galaxy named IC 2458; and a face-on non-barred spiral galaxy called NGC 2805. Collectively, the four galaxies make up a galaxy group known as Holmberg 124.
8. NGC 2976: NGC 2976 resides on the fringe of the M81 group of galaxies, located about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. The observation is part of the ACS Nearby Galaxy Survey Treasury (ANGST) program.

ISS and other orbiting bits

Use the this NASA website for exact timings for York overpasses. York, England, United Kingdom | Sighting Opportunity | Spot The Station | NASA

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Jan 29, 2024 through Tuesday Feb 13, 2024

Date	Visible	Max Height*	Appears	Disappears	Share Event
Mon Jan 29, 6:39 PM	5 min	28°	10° above W	18° above SSE
Tue Jan 30, 5:52 PM	6 min	35°	10° above W	10° above SE
Tue Jan 30, 7:30 PM	2 min	11°	10° above WSW	11° above SSW
Wed Jan 31, 6:41 PM	4 min	16°	10° above WSW	10° above S
Thu Feb 1, 5:53 PM	5 min	21°	10° above W	10° above SSE
Sat Feb 3, 5:55 PM	2 min	12°	10° above WSW	10° above SSW

Useful Resources

https://starlust.org/the-night-sky-in-february/

https://www.spacedaily.com/

http://www.n3kl.org/sun/noaa.html

http://skymaps.com/downloads.html

http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-2023.html

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/what-are-names-full-moons-throughout-yearhttp://www.deepskywatch.com/deepsky-guide.html

https://www.constellation-guide.com/

Top 10 Winter Sky Targets for Skywatchers | Space

and of course the sky at night magazine!